Repeating crossbow
Encyclopedia
A repeating crossbow is a crossbow
where the separate actions of stringing the bow, placing the bolt
and shooting it can be accomplished with a simple one-handed movement while keeping the crossbow stationary. This allows a higher rate of fire than a normal crossbow. More complex ancient
designs worked with a chain drive
instead: there is a magazine containing a number of bolts on top of the bow, and the mechanism is worked by moving a rectangular lever forward and backward.
The Chinese repeating crossbow is a device with a simple design. Also known as the lián nǔ , the invention is commonly attributed to the strategist
Zhuge Liang
(181–234 AD) of the Three Kingdoms
period, but those found in Tomb 47 at Qinjiazui, Hubei
Province have been dated to the 4th century BC. Zhuge Liang improved the design of the repeating crossbow, and made a version which shot two to three bolts at once and was used in massed formations. For this reason, it was named after him. Other repeating crossbows fired as many as 10 bolts before exhausting the magazine. The bolts of one magazine are fired and reloaded by simply pushing and pulling the lever back and forth. Such action could fire 10 bolts in 15 seconds, after which the magazine would be reloaded. The weapon used by the ancient militaries was developed into a composite-recurve variety for more power. The recurved repeating crossbow is generally still weaker than the regular recurved crossbow, and was mainly used for sieges or behind shield cover. Non-recurved versions of the repeating crossbow were often used for home defense. The repeating crossbow saw its last serious action in the China-Japan war of 1894–1895
, where photographs show repeating crossbows as common weapons among Qing Dynasty
troops. The basic construction of this weapon has remained very much unchanged since its invention, making it one of the longest-lived mechanical weapons.
The repeating crossbow was introduced into Korea by King Sejong
(1418–1450), who during a trip to China saw the weapon and was impressed by its mechanism. In Korean it was called sunogung .
A more complex device was described in the works of the Greek
engineer Philon of Byzantium. This siege engine, a repeating ballista
, was called a Polybolos
and was reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria in the 3rd century BC. Two flat-linked chains were connected to a windlass
, which by winding back and forth would automatically fire the machine's arrows until its magazine was empty. The machine features the earliest recorded chain drive
in the history of technology.
In 2007, Chad Houseknecht made a modern-day repeating crossbow. The crossbow was made for a Discovery Channel-program, and was based on the Cho-ko-nu.
Crossbow
A crossbow is a weapon consisting of a bow mounted on a stock that shoots projectiles, often called bolts or quarrels. The medieval crossbow was called by many names, most of which derived from the word ballista, a torsion engine resembling a crossbow in appearance.Historically, crossbows played a...
where the separate actions of stringing the bow, placing the bolt
Quarrel
A quarrel or bolt is the term for the ammunition used in a crossbow. The name "quarrel" is derived from the French carré, "square", referring to the fact that they typically have square heads. Although their length varies, they are typically shorter than traditional arrows.Bolts and arrows have...
and shooting it can be accomplished with a simple one-handed movement while keeping the crossbow stationary. This allows a higher rate of fire than a normal crossbow. More complex ancient
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
designs worked with a chain drive
Chain drive
Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles...
instead: there is a magazine containing a number of bolts on top of the bow, and the mechanism is worked by moving a rectangular lever forward and backward.
History
Strategist
A design strategist has the ability to combine the innovative, perceptive and holistic insights of a designer with the pragmatic and systemic skills of a planner to guide strategic direction in context of business needs, brand intent, design quality and customer values...
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang
Zhuge Liang was a chancellor of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He is often recognised as the greatest and most accomplished strategist of his era....
(181–234 AD) of the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period, but those found in Tomb 47 at Qinjiazui, Hubei
Hubei
' Hupeh) is a province in Central China. The name of the province means "north of the lake", referring to its position north of Lake Dongting...
Province have been dated to the 4th century BC. Zhuge Liang improved the design of the repeating crossbow, and made a version which shot two to three bolts at once and was used in massed formations. For this reason, it was named after him. Other repeating crossbows fired as many as 10 bolts before exhausting the magazine. The bolts of one magazine are fired and reloaded by simply pushing and pulling the lever back and forth. Such action could fire 10 bolts in 15 seconds, after which the magazine would be reloaded. The weapon used by the ancient militaries was developed into a composite-recurve variety for more power. The recurved repeating crossbow is generally still weaker than the regular recurved crossbow, and was mainly used for sieges or behind shield cover. Non-recurved versions of the repeating crossbow were often used for home defense. The repeating crossbow saw its last serious action in the China-Japan war of 1894–1895
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War was fought between Qing Dynasty China and Meiji Japan, primarily over control of Korea...
, where photographs show repeating crossbows as common weapons among Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
troops. The basic construction of this weapon has remained very much unchanged since its invention, making it one of the longest-lived mechanical weapons.
The repeating crossbow was introduced into Korea by King Sejong
Sejong the Great of Joseon
Sejong the Great was the fourth king of the Joseon Dynasty of Korea. During his regency, he reinforced Korean Confucian policies and executed major legal amendments . He also used the creation of Hangul and the advancement of technology to expand his territory...
(1418–1450), who during a trip to China saw the weapon and was impressed by its mechanism. In Korean it was called sunogung .
A more complex device was described in the works of the Greek
History of Greece
The history of Greece encompasses the history of the territory of the modern state of Greece, as well as that of the Greek people and the areas they ruled historically. The scope of Greek habitation and rule has varied much through the ages, and, as a result, the history of Greece is similarly...
engineer Philon of Byzantium. This siege engine, a repeating ballista
Ballista
The ballista , plural ballistae, was an ancient missile weapon which launched a large projectile at a distant target....
, was called a Polybolos
Polybolos
Polybolos was an ancient Greek repeating ballista reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria, a 3rd century BC Greek engineer at the Rhodes arsenal and used in antiquity. Philo of Byzantium encountered and described the polybolos, a catapult that like a modern machine gun could fire again and...
and was reputedly invented by Dionysius of Alexandria in the 3rd century BC. Two flat-linked chains were connected to a windlass
Windlass
The windlass is an apparatus for moving heavy weights. Typically, a windlass consists of a horizontal cylinder , which is rotated by the turn of a crank or belt...
, which by winding back and forth would automatically fire the machine's arrows until its magazine was empty. The machine features the earliest recorded chain drive
Chain drive
Chain drive is a way of transmitting mechanical power from one place to another. It is often used to convey power to the wheels of a vehicle, particularly bicycles and motorcycles...
in the history of technology.
In 2007, Chad Houseknecht made a modern-day repeating crossbow. The crossbow was made for a Discovery Channel-program, and was based on the Cho-ko-nu.
External links
- Crossbow Plans – How to build a repeating crossbow.
- CHU-KO-NU – The Chinese Repeating Crossbow
- The Chinese Repeating Crossbow From Ralph Frankland-Payne-Gallwey's work